Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Zeke --> With Claire in his office
Anya --> With Riv and Laz by the entrance))

His head did what most probably would have at hearing the name of the creature Claire had captured and that was tilt slightly toward the left. Zeke's expression wasn't puzzled for long, not with how dutifully the blonde explained what a leshy was and what it did. When she mentioned them looking like old men, there was a brief moment where an elderly looking Frei appeared in his head, wizened and bent, but with grandfatherly eyes and a beard that rivaled Dumbledore's in length. He cracked a smile, which twisted into surprise when she mentioned the forest fire and that was when he put two and two together.

"You got burned." It came out as a statement though in some respects he meant it as a question, even as obvious as the answer was. As soon as the words came out he was gaping and moving his jaw to find other words. "I-I mean...I'm sorry Claire."

If she had met him through a family friend then there was a chance that they bonded before the fire. If that was true, then she was bearing the weight of more than just physical scars.

---

Anastacia shook her head at Rivener's question.

"I'm not good at flying." She could admit that fault in herself, having experienced her limitations with it firsthand. She stretched her wings wide for emphasis, the webbing that lined the chitinous pinions shining gold in the afternoon sun. "I've only "flown" once and even then I struggled to keep up with the others I was with."

Iorek had been burdened with Zeke's weight on top of his own and he had still easily outpaced her. No, she was fine with floating. It suited her.

When the Scorpion suggested never growing up, Anastacia quite clearly frowned.

"But I want to grow up, Rivener." Even though she had given Cesc's Sigelhood a pass back when it had happened, it still bothered her that she had not yet joined the likes of the Stag, Rivener, and Zul. One day, yes, it would come to pass and all would be right in the world. But why not sooner rather than later? "I want to be a Sigel."

She turned her eyes onto Lazarus, who had the honor of being the first of their kind to reach a full body. Would he have an answer to why she, a five year old Frei, had not yet developed a stomach of her own? If any Raevan would know, surely it would be him. She parted her lips to question him on that, but at the mention of an explosive power, she stopped before she even started.

"Explosive power?" Her tone and face said 'explanation, please' but her crown and wings said 'I don't know if I like the sound of that'.

(( Claire -> with Zeke in his office ))

All Claire could do was smile that same tired smile.

"It's fine, what's done is done." She shifted her hands to rest on the tabletop before her and focused on those instead. "At least he gets to come back this way. My garden is no forest but hopefully it will do." She chuckled, and in that moment she had visions of her much-neglected garden becoming something more than it was. There had been plans laid to do more with it - a gazebo someday, fruit trees, flower beds framing the house - but they had been forgotten in recent months due to everything going on and her own tumultuous state. But now...

Now she wanted to build that up for the leshy when he came back as her Raevan. She knew it would not be the leshy as he was - she didn't even know if it would be male or female, but she would love them all the same.

"They won't be lord of the forest again, but they can be the ruler of my garden. I hope they'll grow up strong together." This time her smile was genuine, and she took up the pen. She would have to have a word with her mother once this exchange was over. "Now.. where should I start?"

((Nell > Tea Tasting | Jeremy & Oliver))

Her attention seemed totally riveted on Jeremy as he spoke, her smile not diminishing in the slightest as she listened to his explanation. "Oh, wow, that sounds so much fun. I've always wanted to travel," her voice held a note of wistfulness as she glanced over the array of teas, imagining the various places they could have come from.

"Well, I suppose it never gets boring there? This place seems..." a hand waved vaguely around as she searched for the right word to describe it. "Amazing." Not the most eloquent description, but fitting enough. She caught Jeremy's small greeting, turning slightly to see who was behind her now, and giving Oliver a welcoming smile as well.

Kyoupi

Lavender Hues

((Ethiriel & Henry > food table | Lulu, Justin))

Henry’s smile faltered upon hearing Justin’s removal from his family’s home, immediate worry plastered on his face. He tried to laugh it off with a wave. ”I can definitely give you a couple words on that, at least! Do you have any questions or do you want general answers? ‘Cause from what I’ve come to understand, it’s different between Raevans! Like… food sources, comfort and the like!”

Ethiriel, however, was all smiles as Lulu piled on the attention – yes, it had been such a long time since their brief meeting, but with the rabbit’s energy and excitement it was hard not to be jolly. The Frei eagerly returned the hug, giving Lulu a gentle rub on the shoulder once they parted. ”That is wonderful news, I am so glad for you. And I agree, it could not be a better day!” Her hands never wandered from the Sigel’s shoulders, holding herself in place – without silver decorations, it was the best she could do with grounding herself. As for the tea… ”Believe it or not, I haven’t. I have never actually consumed food nor drink in my life!”

((Xiu ---> Arriving ---> Dining table] || Dr. Kyou ))

Xiu was a little worried. He had given his word to Lazarus that he would be there. After all, it was more than just a tea party; it was an occasion to celebrate Dr. Kyou’s recovery after that long and dangerous ordeal.

And Lazarus’s growth

Well, a bit of both said a conciliatory voice in the back of Xiu’s mind. For Dr. Kyou’s recovery and Lazarus’s growth into Valsaroshood. Although, knowing Lazarus, the Fiery raevan would probably deny it. The thought of it brought a smile to Xiu’s lips.

But back to the issue at hand, he was running late. He had promised to accompany Hazeline to a friend’s wedding earlier and had taken leave as soon as it was socially acceptable. Nevertheless, the party was well underway by the time that the Sigel had arrived.

Taking a moment to appreciate the layout (for it was indeed a splendid affair), Xiu then cast his eyes around for a familiar face to greet. Everyone seemed occupied and the Sigel found himself a little reluctant to butt in out of the blue. Besides, he should probably greet the good Doctor first; seeing that the party was held in his honour.

The Sigel spotted Dr. Kyou nestled between several plates of sweet desserts with a look of happy contentment on his face. No doubt that the good Doctor had helped himself to several servings of puddings and the like.

Approaching the dining table, Xiu greeted the Doctor politely. “ Good afternoon Dr. Kyou, I am glad to see you looking better and better each time we meet,”

[[Arriving -> Noah || Tea Tasting]]

To put it mildly, Noah was out of her element walking into the tea party but she embraced it and kept moving until she made it to the tea tasting table which had been set up. It was hard to say why she had been drawn to this table first but it likely had to do with the various aromas circling the room, not to say the food wasn't just as appealing. Noah deduced that it would be less wise to immediately go to the food table but she knew she would end up there eventually. The teapot planters also seemed like a fun activity.

Her attention was directed from the lemon and ginger tea she had just took a generous sniff of by the group surrounding the table. "These all smell so good. What did all of you choose?"

((Cesc--> food table | Ian, Lulu, Eth))

"I've been well, thank you," said Cesc genially, smiling down at the man. Their experience last time-- what with all the hedge maze craziness-- made Cesc pleasantly surprised that Ian was still interested on engaging with the Lab. If Shepard had gone into the maze while he and Vivi were not yet owners, well… Cesc was unsure he would have ever been born.

"Halloween parties may be out-- but tea parties aren't too bad, ah?" He smiled as Lulu's voice caught his ear, as well as Ethiriel's. "But wait, where are my manners? Do you know Lulu, or Ethiriel here?"

He turned slightly to accommodate both Ian and the two talking ladies, reaching out gently to touch Eth's shoulder. He caught the tail end of her speech, breaking in to say: "Not for a lack of trying, Lulu. She's been at the bakery before, but no temptation! Ladies, this is Ian, by the way-- he was at the Halloween party and is dedicated enough to have actually come back after."